Convertible furniture



March 20, 1956 J. R. THOMAS CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE INVENTOR.- JOSEPH R THOMAS ATTY 2 Sheets-SheetV 2 wwf/vrom Arr'y March 20, 1956 J, R, THOMAS CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE Filed June 30, 1952 JOSEPH THOMAS United States Patent O CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE Joseph R. Thomas, Chicago, Ill. Application June 30, 1952, Serial No. 296,269

8 Claims. (Cl. 512) This invention relates in general to a folding construction which may be converted into a bed from a chair or a davenport.

In convertible furniture of this kind, it is desirable that the construction be comfortable not only as a bed, but also when used as a seat. If the seat is too high or too at, it is uncomfortable as a seat, and yet the space below the seat is so restricted that all of thetspace must be used to the best advantage to receive the folding parts below and partially behind the seat without making the seat unduly high. Most bed davenport constructions are provided with a tightly stretched metal fabric which constitutes a support for a mattress or other material .placed upon the so-cal1ed supporting fabric, and since this invention is applied to a seat section which is inverted within a furniture frame, the opposite sides of the metal fabric are used as a sleeping surface and also as a seat support in their diiterent limiting positions.

In the seat position, it is desirable that the rear of the seat be inclined downwardly from the front thereof to add comfort and a pleasing appearance `to the seat regardless of whether the supporting fabric of the seat is exposed or whether a cushion either loose or attached is applied thereto. 4 j

The present invention relates particularly to means for depressing the rear of the seat fabric in the seat position but relieving the fabric from contact with such means when the the seat section is inverted and used 'for a bed.

Y An important object of the invention is therefore in the provision of means for depressing the supporting fabric of the seat section when thefolding sections of l a bed davenport are in the seat position.

A further object of the invention is to provide means dependent upon the folding and unfolding of connected bed sections for automatically applying pressure to the supporting `fabric of the seat section whenit yis in seat I `position and relieving the pressure on the fabric when the seat section is overturned and moved to bed position.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a fabric engaging means for the seat section of a sectional folding bed which comprises an extension of one of the hinge forming members connecting the seat `sections for -their folding and unfolding movement.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the specification and will be apparent from the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of convertiblefurniture in accordance with this invention, comprising connected folding sections which are extended to a bed forming position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view as taken from a plane 2-2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. l in folded or seat position; and

"ice

This invention is described as it relates to a folding chair or davenport bed of the type in which a number of sections are connected together for coordinated movement depending upon the inversion of the seat section within thesupporting frame, one side of the supporting fabric in the seat section serving as a sleeping surface and the other side of the same fabric serving as a seat support in its inverted position. The invention may apply to any convertible furniture of this kind which comprises connected sections foldable below the seat section in which it is desirable to depress the seat supporting fabric near the rear end of the seat when it is in the seat position.

`Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a supporting frame is represented as having side arms or end frames 10, each supported on suitable legs and having a connecting back 12, an upholstered back rest 13 and an angle iron yoke 14 connected to the inner sides and extending between the side frames at the bottom and adjacent the front thereof. This provides a substantially stable support in which the bed sections may be mounted.

The folding and connected sections comprise a seat section 16, an intermediate section 18 and an outer section 20 with corresponding angle iron side bars 17, 19 and 21. The seat section is pivotally and overturnably mounted in the furniture frame by links 22 and 24 at each end of the section pivoted to a mounting strap 26 which is secured to the adjacent end frame 10. The link 22 has a pivot 28 at one end connecting it to one end of the strap 26 and a pivot 30 at the other end of the link connecting it to an angle bar 31 overlying and secured to the side frame bar 17 at one end of the seat section 16. The other link 24 has a pivot 32 at one end connecting it to the mounting strap 26 and a pivot 34 at its other end connecting it to the angle oar 31 which may be spaced from the side frame bar 17 at the end of the seat section. The seat section is mounted by the links 22 and 24 at both ends thereof to be overturned from a seat position as vshown in Fig. 3 to an extended or bed position as shown in Fig. l. A coil spring 25 is connected at one end to the link 22 and at th'e other end to a plate 27 attached to the mounting strap 26 of each end frame 10 and these springs tend to assist in overturning the seat and the connected bed sections and to cushion their return movements.

In the bed position, the seat section is supported by a stop projection 35 extending from the seat section which engages one edge of the link 2,2. The other link 24 engages a stop bracket 38 to limit its forward movement. ln the other limiting position of the seat section as shown in Fig. 3, the bracket 3S is engaged by a projection 40 secured to the end of the seat section 16 near the front thereof in seat position so that the projection 40 rests upon the bracket 38.

At the front of the seat section in its seat position is a front board 42 secured at right angles to the front side of the seat section by means of an angle bar 44 adjacent each end thereof and connected by a cross bar 46 which extends between the end rails of seat section 16 at the inner side of the front board. The front board forms a cover between the bottoms of the side frames and up to the top of the seat section in the present form in which a loose cushion 48 is placed upon the seat section.

At the rear of the seat section and extending upwardly therefrom in seat position is an angle iron yoke 50, the ends of which are connected to the end frames of the seat section to strengthen and support them at this edge thereof. An angle brace 52 may be secured to each end of the seat section frame and to the yoke itself to hold it in fixed a a ing parallel to the side of the seat frame to which one end of a seat fabric 56 is connected by a helical spring 58',d this seat fabric being connected by other helical springs 58 with a wire fabric 60 extending between the other folding sections in a well known manner.

A supporting leg 62 is connected to each` end of the intermediate section 18 by a pivot 64 located a short dis tance from the inner side of this section. A cross bar 63 is attached to the legs 62 at opposite sides of the bed'section 18 to operate them in unison. A supporting leg 66 is connected to each end of the outer section frame by a pivot 68 intermediate the sides of the frame.` Across bar 67 is attached to the legs 66 at opposite sides `of the bed section 20 to operate them in unison and a coil-spring 69 is connected at one end to eachend-of the-cross bar 67 and at its other end to the adjacent side frame bar 2l and tends to draw the legs 66 to an open or extended position. t Connecting theinterrnediate and outer frame sections s a plate 7 0 secured to the outersection side frame bar 21 with the pivot 72 extending throughthe adjacent end of the intermediate section 18 side frame bar 19 yfor pivotally connecting it thereto. This plate extends downwardly from the sections which it connects (in the bed position as shown in Fig. l) and a pivot 74 located in the projection is connected to one end of a coordinating lever 76 which extends beyond the leg 62 to the opposite side of the intermediate section 18. A link 78 is connected to each outer leg 66 by a pivot 80, and the other end of the link is connected by a pivot 82 with the lever 76 at a distance beyond its pivot 74. Each intermediate leg 62 is pivotally connected by a short link 84 with the coordinating lever 76 at the side between the two legs 62 and 66. To join the seat section with the other sections for coordinating and folding movement, there is a lever 86 at each end which may be in the form of a bell crank. One end of this lever has a pivot 88 connecting it to the angle bar 54, and at the other end it is connected by a pivot 90 with the side bar of the intermediate section 18 spacing the adjacent ends of the intermediate and seat sections apart.

In the angle of the bell crank lever 86 is a pivot 92 connected to the end of the coordinating levers 76 in such a manner that the pivots of the lever 76 and the link 78 are substantially in alignment with the pivot 92 forming a locking connection for the parts in their extended or bed position as shown in Fig. l.

Also connecting the intermediate and seat sections at each end is a lever 94 having a pivot 96 at one end, connected to the extremity of the side frame of the intermediate section 18 and having a pivot 98 connecting it to the angle bar 54 intermediate the ends of the lever'94. Connected to the other end of each lever 94 is a contact bar 100 which is preferably formed of round tubularrnaterial flattened at the ends and secured by rivets 102 lto the ends of the levers 94. This contact bar thus extends between the ends of the seat section adjacent to the se'at fabric 56 and it is moved by the movement of the lever- 94 into and out of contact with the seat fabric 56 sothat when the folding sections are in the seat position as shown in Fig. 3, the bar 100 is moved by its lever 94 into contact with the seat fabric 56 depressing it at the rear of the seat and causing the seat section to be inclined downwardly thereby from the front of the seat as shown in Fig.V 3 so that seat cushions 4S placed thereon will be more easily retained in place and the seat will be more comfortable and in better seat relation to the back rest 13.

In operation, assuming that the sections are folded-and in seat position as shown by Fig. 3, the front board 42 .is grasped and raised. upwardly and outwardly which raises the leg 62 from their engagement with the cross brace' 14 and swings the seat section upwardly and rearwardly;y as shown in Fig. 4 as the intermediate and outer sections are unfolded and extended forwardly. At this time,-thein termediate and seat sections are moved apart,l the-levers i 94 are rotated upon their intermediate 'pivots 98 and-thc contact bar is moved away from its depressing contact' `with` the supporting fabric 56 so 'that the fabric is no longer depressed and is being stretched and extended by the unfolding movement of the bed sections, in a well known manner.

In their folded position, the sections are spaced sufficiently apart by the levers S6 and 94 so that a mattress 104 of considerable thickness may be enclosed and pressed between the sections folded upon itself substantially in the form of a double J, a portion of the mattress and a portion of the sections and their folding and operating connections being also folded below and at the rear of the seat section and below the upholstered back 13 which may be either fixed -in place or it may be removable and inclined.

In the reverse or folding movement of the bed sections, the outermost side of the outer section is grasped and raised upwardly which breaks the locking connection of the coordinating levers' and as the outer section is raised, the'now innermost part of the seat section is also raised as shown in Fig. 4 inclining the double hinging connection between the seat and the intermediate sections downwardly so that the intermediate and outer sections are folded substantially at right angles to each other and below and behind the seat including the mattress 104 (or bed clothes) between the sections. At the outer end of the 'outer' section 20 is an end mattress support 106 usually fixed' in position and extending outwardly from the sectionto assist in confining the mattress or bed clothes and additionally'holding them in place. The mattress or bedclothes'usually t so tightly between the sections that they' tend, inthe seat position, to bulge upwardly against the `'seat `supportingfabric 56 raising it at the rear and centrally of the seat section. The engagement of the contact "bar 100 therefore opposes this bulging movement and engages and depresses the seat fabric downwardly near the rear of the seat section overcoming the bulging pressure of the bed clothes and causing the seat surface to incline downwardly at the rear to provide a more'cornfortable' seat and to provide an inclined surface for 'resting cushions thereon if desired.

While this construction has been described as applied to'a'particular folding bed construction, it may also be similarly applied to other folding bed constructions and the'cont'act bar operated by a connection from the joined members between the seat' and the next adjacent section, due to the folding and unfolding movements thereof.

Although the construction has been thus described in considerable' detail; it should be regarded by way of illustrat'ion"`and example rather than a restriction or limitation thereof,. as many changes in 'the construction; combination and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing frornthe spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Infconver'tible furniture having a plurality of movablyl connected sections 'which include a seat section mounted lfor 'overturningmovemenn means forming la supp'otin'gfabri'c 'in -the seat section, a contact bar for engaging the fabric 'of the seat section adjacent the movableJ connection 'of' the seat section with the nextv adjacent section; andmeans inthe said connectionbetween the seat section and the next 'adjacent section 'for supporting andautomatically operating the bar' to engage the upper surfceof Vthe fabric lwhert'the 'seat section is inverted to form a seat. y

2." Cnvertible furniture, according to claim l, having supporting-and operating'lever means which movesl the bar away fronthe' fabric Whenthe seat section is overturned from its seat position.

3." Convertible furniture,'accordi'ng to claim 1,A having supporting and operating lever means which moves the bar away from` the 'fabric when the seat section is overturned from.-itsfseat-positionrand moves the bar to depressy the uppery surfaceof the-fabricat the rear of the seat when the seat section is in seat position.

4. In convertible furniture having a supporting frame and a plurality of swingably interconnected sections movable therein and including a seat section and means for mounting it for overturning movement within the frame, means forming a supporting fabric in the seat section for supporting bed clothes on one side when it is overturned from a seat position and for forming a seat surface on the other side when it is in position to form a seat, a contact bar adjacent the swingable connection of the seat section, and means in the swingable connection between the seat section and the next adjacent connected section for supporting and automatically operating the bar to engage the upper surface of the fabric at the rear ofthe seat when the seat section is inverted to form a seat and to move the bar below the fabric when the sections are extended to form a bed.

5. A folding seat bed structure, having a pluralityA of movably interconnected sections, a frame for supporting the sections, said sections including a seat section having means mounting it in the frame for overturning movement, means forming a supporting fabric in the seat section, the sections being foldable within the frame to form a seat and the seat section being overturned and the other sections extending therefrom in front of the frame to form a bed, movable means in the movable connection which forms a joint between the seat section and the next adjacent section, and a contact bar extending parallel with the joint and supported and positively operated by said movable means to engage the upper side of the fabric at the rear of the seat when the seat section is in seat position, and automatically moved thereby below the fabric when the seat section is inverted to form a bed so that the bar is positioned below the fabric.

6. A folding seat structure having a frame and a plurality of swingably interconnected sections movable therein, one of the sections being a seat section having means mounting it for overturning movement in the frame, means forming a supporting fabric in the sections, the swingable connection which forms a pivoting joint between the seat section and the next adjacent section comprising side levers each connected at one end to the next adjacent section and connected between the ends to the seat section, a transverse contact bar extending between the free ends of said levers mounted at opposite sides of the bed sections, the levers moving the bar toward and from the fabric in accordance with the folding and unfolding movements of the sections, the other sections being folded behind and below the seat section when the sections are moved within theY frame to form a seat, and the levers moving the said bar into engagement with the upper side of the fabric at the rear of the seat to depress the fabric in the seat position.

7. A folding seat structure, in accordance with claim 6, in which the bar is in the form of a yoke, the ends of which are turned at right angles and connected to the free ends of the levers and the levers are so connected to the sections at the joint thereof that when the sections are extended in position to form a bed, the ends of the levers and the position of the cross bar are below the level of theV bed fabrick therein so that it is out of position to be engaged by a person resting on the fabric.

8. A convertible seat structure, in accordance with claim 6, in which the seat section is formed with a projecting yoke by means of which it is connected to the said bar operating levers, the yoke extending below the fabric when the sections are extended to bed position and the levers having their intermediate portions pivoted to the yoke so that the free ends thereof extend downwardly, carrying the contact bar at a distance below the level of the fabric when the sections are extended to form a bed.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,142,053 Phenix June s, 1915 1,821,126 Thomas Sept. l, 1931 2,007,988 Thomas July 16, 1935 2,197,735 Thomas Apr. 16, 1940 2,353,329 Woller July 11, 1944 2,588,071 Arton Mar. 4, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 202,471 Greatritain Aukg.2s,192s 

